Imaging of Sports Injuries of the Wrist and Hand

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the imaging approach to several bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist and hand. Emphasis is placed on injuries incurred during athletic activity and on the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and arthrography in diagnosis. As the ability of MRI to depict the small structures and complex anatomy of the wrist and hand continues to improve, it will probably have increased application to this anatomical region. The imaging approach to suspected tears of the interosseous ligaments or triangular fibrocartilage remains unsettled and is a subject of ongoing research. MRI is an accurate, cost-effective modality in the assessment of patients with suspected fracture and negative radiographs and provides clinically useful information in evaluating ligament or tendon abnormalities in the thumb or hand. CT is most often used in the wrist to delineate fracture displacement or angulation, to assess fracture healing and in the diagnosis of distal radioulnar joint instability.

KEYWORDS

Wrist, injuries - wrist, MR - hand, MR